LONDON MITHRAEUM at BLOOMBERG SPACE
Rising from the ruins, the Mithraeum’s walls are displayed as planes of light above its foundations.
Beneath Bloomberg’s new European headquarters, this unique museum responds to one of the United Kingdom’s most significant archaeological sites. Our design team worked with archeologists at the Museum of London Archaeology to create a three-tiered experience that evokes the past and elevates current scholarship.
At street-level, rotating contemporary art commissions reflect on the history of the site and stand in dialogue with a massive artifact case displaying more than 600 objects discovered during recent excavations. The mezzanine level introduces the history behind the cult of Mithras through projected display and interactive kiosks. At the lower level, the experience culminates in the recreation of the temple in light, suggesting the original building structure while respecting the authenticity of the remaining fragments.
Inspiring awe, the Mithraic temple presents the best of scholarship of the time, while also providing visitors the space to imagine 2000-year-old human interactions. The result is an innovative visitor experience that changes the way we encounter archaeology, resurrecting voices from the past and setting up a dialogue with the present.
Project Info
Location
London, UK
Completion
November 2017
Client
Bloomberg
Collaborators
Lead / Media Design: Local Projects
Temple Lighting Design: Matthew Schreiber
Architectural Lighting: Tillotson Design Associates
Architect of Record: Foster + Partners
Curation and Content: Museum of London Archeology
Photographer
James Newton
Awards
2019 Architecture Podium International Architecture Awards, Cultural
2019 International Association of Lighting Designers, Award of Excellence
2019 World Architecture & Design Awards, Cultural
2018 Architecture, Construction & Design Awards, Cultural/Built
2018 Time Magazine “100 of the World’s Greatest Places”
2018 Stirling Award, Bloomberg Headquarters, including the Mithraeum
2018 British Archaeological Awards, Best Public Presentation of Archaeology
2018 American Institute of Architects, New York City, Design Award Citation
2018 Society of American Registered Architects, New York State, Honor Award
2018 Society of Environmental Graphic Designers, Honor Award
2018 Chicago Athenaeum, Global Architecture Award, International Design Award
2018 Architectural Lighting Magazine, Design Award
2018 Society of American Registered Architects, National Honor Award
2018 ADC Award Experiential Design-Exhibition Design Merit, ADC Annual Awards
2018 Architectural Lighting Design Awards Commendable Achievement, Exhibition Lighting and Temporary Installations
2018 Creativepool Awards, Publishing Award
2018 D & AD Awards, “Most Outstanding Creative Excellence” Award in Spatial Design/Exhibition Design
2018 London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, Ralph Merrifield Award for Major contribution to London’s Archaeology
2018 Natural Stone Awards, Reconstruction